Moment's Notice

August 29, 1988

THE NATIONAL Rifle Association is against the waiting period for buying handguns, or any guns. It should be promoting a waiting period. Certainly the people who belong to the NRA are not people who run out and buy a gun at a moment's notice.

When I was a child, my father had several guns around the house. He was considered an expert. Many of his weapons were handed down in the family, and my brothers always had BB guns, and later shotguns for hunting. They and some of the local merchants founded a rifle club. They used to compete with other clubs from Chicago and suburbs. The range was in the basement of a local building.

My father preached safety not only to us but to anyone who brought a gun to him for repairs or advice. And he always was annoyed at people who used guns carelessly. My family and friends used their guns for target practice, competition and hunting.

Anyone who needs a gun for protection should take time to learn the gun's potential benefit and dangers, and lessons should be taken in how to shoot and care for the gun. This would take more than three days. The NRA, if it has any purpose at all, should be behind this procedure.